Chaplin Today: City Lights

2003 0h 26m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

⭐

6.8

IMDB

★6.7TMDB · 17★6.8IMDB · 118

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1928, as the talkies threw the film industry and film language into turmoil, Chaplin decided that his Tramp character would not be heard. City Lights would not be a talking picture, but it would have a soundtrack. Chaplin personally composed a musical score and sound effects for the picture. With Peter Lord, the famous co-creator of Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit, we see how Chaplin became the king of slapstick comedy and the superstar of the movies.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Charlie Chaplin
Self (archive footage)
Peter Lord
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Serge Bromberg
Languages: English
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 26-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 23 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by José Padilla. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Serge Toubiana shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Charlie Chaplin and Peter Lord carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0406640 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 17 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Serge Bromberg directs. José Padilla scores. Serge Toubiana cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 26-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 23 years ago.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Original score by José Padilla. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Serge Toubiana shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Charlie Chaplin and Peter Lord carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0406640 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 17 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Classified under 8 themes, including "metropolis", "tramp", "tribute", "filmmaking".